Zhou Xuan Paintings -- Soft Moments of Shanghai by Night

Author: Han Chen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Zhou Xuan, a name that cannot be forgotten, a dual-star active in the music and film industries during the 1930s, an "golden throat" genius singer, and a lonely soul constantly seeking true love in the world. Zhou Xuan was born around the 1920s in a family, according to her own recollections. Before the age of six, she spent her days in a lotus temple in Shanghai. Later, she was adopted and changed her surname to Zhou. At the age of 12, she was introduced to a singing and dancing troupe to learn the trade. Gradually, she became a renowned singing star both domestically and internationally, and was hailed as the "golden throat." Over her more than 20-year film career as the "golden throat," Zhou Xuan starred in over 40 black-and-white and color films and was once ranked as the "Queen of Cinema." Her representative works include Street Angel, Meng Jiangnu, Meng Lijun, Dream of the Red Chamber, Singing in the Rain, Deep Night, Daughter of the Fisherman, Each Has Their Own Way, Remembering Jiangnan, and Secret History of the Qing Palace. Throughout her life, Zhou Xuan performed over 200 songs, with representative works such as Four Seasons Song, Singing in the Rain, Shanghai at Night, and When Will You Return? Her voice captivated half a century and influenced generations. Even today, her masterpieces like Four Seasons Song, Singing in the Rain, Shanghai at Night, and When Will You Return? are still covered by countless Chinese and overseas singers. Long before the opera The Golden Throat Zhou Xuan and its namesake television series were in preparation, the choice of actress to portray this red singing star from the 1930s and 1940s had become a hot topic in the Chinese media. Half a century later, this book, based on historical records, the context of the era, and descriptions of her surroundings, aims to authentically reflect the brief yet turbulent 40-year life of this talented yet lonely artist. It also seeks to comprehensively document how the turbulent times led Zhou Xuan down a winding path and how an indifferent society contributed to her tragic fate, ultimately driving her to madness and death. Through this book, we hope to let future generations know that many artists like Zhou Xuan wrote a precious page in the dark years, for their country, for art, and for their own history.